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World Ends With You, The

EMAIL PRINT ds

8.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 58 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 99 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Square Enix - Jupiter

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: April 22, 2008

Summary

The story begins as our hero, Neku, wakes up amidst the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, Tokyo. Confused and disoriented, he receives a message on his phone warning him that he will cease to exist unless he completes a certain mission. With his life seemingly on the line, Neku plunges into the back streets of the urban labyrinth... Experience the urban grit and neon of the coolest district in Tokyo with a distinctive, high quality style of in-game artwork. Meet an achingly hip cast of characters each with an interesting personality and stylish sense in fashion, music and culture. Highly innovative and intuitive combat system that makes full use of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, Dual Screens and Microphone. Use psychic powers to read the thoughts of the population, put words into people's minds, and move objects to help you progress in your adventure. Immerse yourself in an amazing audio soundtrack featuring a diverse fusion of bleeding-edge hip-hop, rock, and techno. A tale of friendship, hope and overcoming your challenges, creatively told with a modern edge. Shop till you drop: Keep abreast of the latest Trends to stay one step ahead of the fashion scene and your enemies. Trade items with friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection too. Action-packed minigame fun that can be enjoyed by up to four players via DS Wireless Play. Engage the Chance Encounter mode via DS Wireless Play to share data with fellow game users you bump into in the real world. [Square Enix]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

G4 TV

Games rarely have things this interesting to say or approach them from this outlandish a vector. Listen up.

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100

GameShark

The game hits the mark on virtually every point and its unique blend of fashion savvy, fast paced combat, OCD inspiring item management and audiovisual presentation should not be missed.

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100

Gaming Age

TWEWY is definitely the current reason to own a DS right now, and you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you choose to not check it out.

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100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Addictive gameplay and stylish content make this the perfect handheld complement to your all-night Grand Theft Auto sessions.

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100

Gaming Nexus

Don't let The World Ends With You pass you up as it is easily the best DS title released in the last two years.

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100

Nintendojo

The World Ends With You stands tall as both a compelling piece of interactive art and a brilliantly designed and executed game.

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GamingTrend

It's rare to find an RPG for a handheld system with this much content. There's so much video game joy here that you it should satisfy just about any RPG gamer.

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Console Gameworld

One of the most fun, addictive, out-of-the-box RPGs since Earthbound. If you can handle the hardcore learning curve, the payoff is terrific.

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The New York Times

A remarkably deep and complex game. It is as though the designers sat around thinking of every possible feature you could have in a role playing game and then managed to squeeze them all in.

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GameZone

Not only is the gameplay built from the ground-up for the DS, but the story is actually about something – not just orcs and elves.

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Worth Playing

The World Ends with You is a game that every RPG fan who owns a DS needs to have.

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Game Revolution

With its frantic dual-screen battles in a dense little city, The World Ends With You is a surprisingly hardcore, impossibly ambitious DS title. This pint-size powerhouse might sadly intimidate a few DS owners and their Pokeymans. Don’t get scared off; put down your Zeldas and your juice boxes for two minutes and try taking on The World.

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IGN AU

This is going to be the cult-hit DS game of 2008. Jupiter and Square Enix have developed a game that nails just about everything it tries – and it tries quite a lot of new or carefully lifted ideas.

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1UP

This is a game that works precisely because it's something new and different, and deserves to be celebrated for its originality...and for making its more banal moments as compelling as the inventive ones.

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Games Radar (in-house)

The World Ends With You is an amazing marriage of style and gameplay. The dual screen combat further stretches what the DS can achieve in gaming that is far from a lame gimmick.

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GameSpot

The World Ends With You is a compelling and immaculately presented RPG from start to finish, and is a great way for Square Enix to kick off a new franchise.

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Play Magazine

I celebrate this game, and congratulate Square for having the courage to localize a piece that is so thoroughly Japanese. [May 2008, p.64]

GameTap

And while it all seems a little hokey or emo (as the kids call it these days) at first, The World Ends With You is actually one of the most interesting and gratifying experiences I’ve had with an RPG in years.

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GamePro

The briskly moving plot and the unique battle system adds up yet another winner for Square Enix. [May 2008, p.82]

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Thunderbolt

As far as handheld RPGs go, it doesn’t get much more original than this.

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Nintendo Power

Thw World Ends with You may not have a big name like "Final Fantasy" or "Kingdom Hearts" attached to it, but it certainly deserves the same kind of success. [May 2008, p.87]

IGN

Few games make it into the "amazing" category in our opinion, but with a game that sets as many standards, breaks down as many walls, stomps as many preconceptions, and offers as much depth and versatility as The World Ends With You, we simply can’t consider it anything but exactly that.

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Gamestyle

The World Ends With You is one of the best games of the year without a doubt. A fantastic plot with an amazing cast of character bring this virtual Shibuya to life in a game you’ll definitely want to see through to the end.

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GamerNode

The World Ends With You is hands-down one of the best DS games yet. It's fun and unique, and every DS-owning RPG fan needs to pick this up.

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NGamer UK

The most exciting ds game we've played in ages. [June 2008, p.56]

Pocket Gamer UK

The Worlds Ends With You is a deep and multifaceted adventure with clever combat, innovative features and a worrying shop-till-you-drop addictivity.

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Kombo

The World Ends With You is a very unique and stylish RPG that all DS users should try out, at the very least.

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GameDaily

It's a convoluted story, but with intriguing characters, inspiring visuals and a stellar soundtrack, it's a journey worth your time.

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

Thrillingly inventive, dazzlingly original. Makes all other handheld RPGs look stale and uninteresting. [Issue#23, p.76]

Gamer.nl

Even if you dislike Japan, J-Pop or anything that has to do with this country, The World Ends With You will appeal to you.

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Gaming Target

I commend Square-Enix on bringing over a very niche title and taking the gamble with both the game mechanics and the audience.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Square Enix proves that J-RPG doesn’t have to stick with a pre-formatted formula, offering a modern environment, a combat mechanic free of random encounters, and a adjustable difficulty that maintains the challenge to the player. Essential to all DS owners. [June 2008]

N-Europe

Fantastic visuals, a wonderful soundtrack and original and compelling gameplay make this a must-have gem for the DS.

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AceGamez

The hardcore will love its every moment, but casual gamers looking for a gateway drug into the role-playing genre won't give it a second look; like an arthouse favourite or a good long book, it's slow to pick up but impossible to put down.

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Gamervision

The World Ends With You is definitely not a game for everyone. It takes chances, it's bizarre, it's different, and it's difficult to even explain. However, it's also one of the best new RPG experiences I’ve had in the last few years.

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games(TM)

The greatest strength of The World Ends With You is that, in spite of its genre-bending innovations, not a single new element has been introduced just for the sake of it. [June 2008, p.110]

IGN UK

Indeed, the game's appropriation of real-world themes and issues are at the heart of its success.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A highly original RPG that oozes class through the screens and speakers. The unique battle system is a great idea, despite being let down occasionally by iffy controls. [May 2008, p.87]

Games Master UK

A punchy young upstart like this is just what the staling RPG world needs. [May 2008, p.68]

Gamer 2.0

The World Ends With You is a game that's really hard to get into at first because of its bizarre presentation. However, the strangeness of the game is what really makes it stand out from any RPG—or rather, any game, that's come out before it.

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Cheat Code Central

It is a great example of innovative gameplay, and though it might take a while to get a hold on the actual battle mechanics, once you get going, you won't be able to stop!

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

It's not perfect, but it's refreshingly original. [May 2008, p. 88]

RPG Fan

My final thought on The World Ends With You is that it's a grower. I was not initially sold on the game, but as I sunk more time into it, the more it grew on me.

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PALGN

The World Ends With you is easily one of the best and undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences available on the Nintendo DS. Despite a tough learning curve, we highly recommend this one-of-a-kind title.

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AtomicGamer

Simply put, TWEWY is not perfect, but it brims with a style, depth and richness unmatched by any other RPG on the portable platform.

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GameTrailers

From it's setting in modern Tokyo to its fast paced enemy encounters, The World Ends with You stands out as a daring and innovative franchise for Square-Enix, in spite of the main character's struggle with amnesia.

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Game Informer

This is the stuff cult hits are made of. [May 2008, p.98]

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Play.tm

All that said, this is a game that doesn't pander to the casual gamer. Those that persevere will however find a very accessible experience bubbling under the teen angst.

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VideoGamer

It will please fans of all things Japanese the most and probably alienate others, but there's something about TWEWY that makes it just a little bit special.

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Cubed3

But the eclectic mix of a new take on traditional RPG values, thoroughly modern settings, a funk-filled soundtrack and a completely unique battle mechanic pays off considerably, making the venture one that should not be missed by fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

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Deeko

If you're looking for something different in an RPG then do yourself a favor and give this game a shot.

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netjak

Overall, The World Ends With You is a shining example of what could be done on the DS.

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Edge Magazine

When control is wrested from the narrative, the action mechanics are deep and interesting, making unique use of both of the DS screens at once. [May 2008, p.94]

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Level7.nu

Its intense battles combined with the unique graphical look and equally unique soundtrack makes The World Ends With You one of the most interesting titles to grace the DS right now. If you're patient enough to handle the somewhat complex gameplay and the text heavy dialogue, this is a title you definitely don’t want to miss out on.

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Eurogamer

It's bold, inspiring and bubbling over with dozens of ideas, any one of which would be cause for celebration in most games, but the over-reliance on a daunting sink-or-swim combat system that will leave many players gasping for breath ultimately counts against it. A truly brilliant game, it's just a shame that it couldn't ease off on the information overload and make that brilliance easier for everyone to appreciate.

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GameSpy

The beautiful world, smart controls and surprising depth kept us coming back for more.

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NintendoWorldReport

It's ironic, then, that the monotony of the new battle system still ends up being redeemed by a great story. And if great stories are your thing, The World Ends With You will warm your heart. If you are all about gameplay, you'll probably get bored fairly quickly.

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Zentendo

It ultimately suffers from trying too hard to be innovative and forgets the important part of being user friendly.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 99 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Eric L. gave it a10:
This is the Best game I have for my DS, and one of my favorite games all together. The story is full of suprises, and I dig the comic book art style. I also thought it was cool how the dialougue is thick with slang. The music is sounds really good on the DS because this is probably the only handheald game with more than one song that has vocals, and the it is perfectly fitting like in Jet Set Radio Future. The combat is really good, and varied, too, and I love how I can adjust the difficulty and my level midgame so I could earn rare pins. I also like how there are no random battles, and how they can be strung together for more exp, and how enemies are not overly agressive (though still challenging), allowing the player to look between the top and bottom screens without worrying too hard about the character out of sight being attacked. This game is awesome, that's all there is to it.

Blind gave it a10:
Easily one of the best games on DS. The gameplay is so immersive and unique. It takes great skill and concentration - but only if you want it to. The game is flexibility enough to be as hard or as difficult as you want to be. The DS features are used so well that it feels like the DS was designed for this game rather than the other way around. In particular, dual screen and touch screen are perfect. There are very few things I'd change in this game.

Jonathan gave it a10:
Is this the best game of all time? No. Is this an amazing game that deserves a 10? OH YEA! This is a game unlike anything I'd ever played before. A few days before actually purchasing it, I read a lot of reviews that said the same thing. So if you're interested in something that's innovative, this is the game for you!! But be sure to check out all other postings as well. I'm a gamer, like a challenge, and also am mildly obsessive about completing a game/story. Needless to say, not everyone is like me with respect to games - so keep your eyes open for things in reviews that you think you would dislike about this game before buying it. TONS of features to the game. Here's a small list: Clothing System (which ties into the Popularity System), Pins System (which is sort of like skills), Food System (eat food to gain stats... oh, and your "eating" cool down lasts in real-time. You can only eat so many "bytes" of food each REAL Day), the Sleep System (when loading your saved game, you are given free xp for your skills based upon how long it has been since you last played), Variable Difficulty System (you decide the difficulty... oh, and if your difficulty is higher, then you are rewarded for it with more base and skill xp), Variable Level System (you know how you gain levels in an RPG? well you can scale these back and increase your drop rate for items. For instance: I am lvl 8, but I scale down to lvl 7. Now the game is more difficult for me, but my chances for receiving items is doubled), and more. All of these systems are eventually introduced and explained in full detail with the game's excellent method of providing tutorials (which helped me a lot since I never actually had the manual - bought the game used). **NOTE: There is only ONE save game allowed. Bummer, I know. I wanted my wife to play the game, but that would wind up destroying my save... Life is full of unexpected challenges haha Great story (yes, slow at the start, but it picks up), TONS of extras even post game that explain the unanswered questions in the story. Um... how to best say it... if you like Anime, then you'll already have a particular disposition towards liking this game as well. Steep learning curve (as others have mentioned) since you need to monitor two (yes, two) characters during a fight at the same time. Also, you'll have to get really friendly with your DS's Stylus (if you haven't already)... now, I'm a pro ;) MASSIVE NUMBER OF SKILLS!!! These skills (which are represented as "pins" - like pins that you wear) level up (each skill has its own experience), and sometimes "evolve" into higher-class skills. Did I think this was corny at first? yes... but I don't think so anymore. How's the Music? Wow. Glad you asked. The music is incredible. Even in the DS's semi-lame stereo speakers, all of the words are clear, soft on the ears, and easy to understand. There are other games (like Rune Factory, for instance) that have songs with voice in them also, but many times, these songs sound muffled/lower quality/really yucky. This game (World Ends With You) isn't like that at all. The audio is brilliant!! - Note: The song style/genre isn't my type really. It's sort of a cross between some hip-hop, a bit of rap, and perhaps some mild pop. This isn't a perfect synopsis of it, but even though these songs aren't my style, I didn't mind listening to any of them (they aren't repetitive, so they didn't get on my nerves). Well, I hope this helps you make a more informed decision on your potential purchase! As for me, the buy was well worth it.

Ludwig V. gave it a10:
WHen I first read about this game, I was skeptical about the game style. But when I started playing, I couldn't stop!!!! This is one of those games that makes you think "this must be what Nintendo had in mind when designing the touch screen". The story pushes you to play and play and play... to find out what happens next. The music is not the usual enviromental music... you are listening a Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop CD all the time! You can even start the game, and leave the DS open just to hear the music.

Ryan H. gave it a10:
One of the best game I've played in years! I was a little hesitant to picking it up- the screenshots online looked a bit iffy, but, hey, it got great reviews. It was worth every dollar! The day I bought it, I played for eight hours strait- the longest I've ever played a handheld straight. The art is pretty, the music sounds great, and you will find yourself emotionally attached to the characters. This game will not leave you any regrets.

Glean H. gave it a3:
Puzzle solving is non existent, you arent even allowed to solve a puzzle until you talk to someone who tells you how to solve the puzzle, how is that fun? save your money, buy a comic and a pen then draw all over the comic - just as fun!

Adam F. gave it a9:
This game is not only completely original and amazingly innovative, but is one of the few RPGs that even huge nerds shouldn't be ashamed to play. It has style, flair, and the writing is either well done or so ridiculously over the top it's funny (see Sho Miniamoto, AKA Pi-Face). It's just a cool game.

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World Ends With You, The

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases